PM Fumio Kishida to resign as Japanese Prime Minister

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced his decision to step down next month, citing public dissatisfaction with political scandals and rising living costs during his three-year tenure. This decision has sparked a competition within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to find his successor.

Kishida emphasized the importance of public trust in politics and expressed his strong determination to push for political reform. His popularity declined due to controversies surrounding the LDP’s connections to the Unification Church and a slush fund of political donations. Additionally, the public discontent grew as wages failed to keep up with increasing living expenses.

The new LDP leader will face challenges in restoring public confidence, addressing the rising cost of living, managing geopolitical tensions with China, and potentially dealing with a return of Donald Trump as US president. President Joe Biden praised Kishida’s national security strategy and efforts to enhance US-South Korea-Japan cooperation.

Kishida’s term was marked by a shift in economic policy towards boosting household income, leading Japan out of the pandemic with stimulus spending, and increasing defence spending to deter Chinese aggression. Various candidates, including former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, are being considered for the leadership position.